Iron bars for Iron Mike, back to the ring for Holyfield

Iron Mike is bankrupt as he faces up to four more years behind iron bars. The Real Deal is banking another $10million.

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Both men are in their 40s yet the contrast between these two great prizefighters is as heavy as their punches.

Tyson, having squandered $300m, is heading back to prison having copped a plea bargain this week for being caught in possession of drugs and under the influence as he drove away from a seedy nightclub in Phoenix last Christmas.

The length of his latest incarceration will be decided in November.

Holyfield the multi-millionaire is free to fly out of the United States next week to challenge Russia's Sultan Ibragimov for the WBO heavyweight championship.

Beyond his first overseas fight in a 22-year professional career, he intends battling on until he has unified that belt with the WBC, WBA and IBF titles.

Yet the fortunes of these men who disputed two of the ring's richest mega-fights remain inextricably entwined.

Tyson is heading via prison to the old lag's corner down the darkest end of Skid Row.

Holyfield, enshrined as the only four-time heavyweight champion, is feared by many to be pushing his brain through too many extra fights towards the dim recesses of the punch-drunk pugilist.

Four years the elder, he will be 45 six days after he trades sledgehammer blows with the southpaw Ibragimov in Moscow on Saturday week.

Both are unrepentant and Holyfield spoke yesterday for the right of each of them to live their lives as they see fit: 'We do what we have to do. The public view on whether I should carry on seems to be split 50-50, but I'm the only one who can make that judgment.

'I did that after losing three decisions because I knew I was hampered by injury in those fights. Now I've won four straight and I know I can keep doing it. I've learned to trim back my training so I don't leave the fight in the gym and I'm getting better all the time.

'It will be exciting for everyone to see someone my age boxing like a young man. Fast hands, strong. One of the privileges of a great champion is to take his skills around the world. I am giving the Russians their chance to see Evander Holyfield fight. This is not a risk, it's a blessing.'

He recalls outpointing the 42-yearold George Foreman, who kept his comeback going until he became the oldest heavyweight champ at 45.

Says Holyfield: 'I beat Big George that night but we both won in the end. So win or lose in Moscow — and I will win — I won't be retiring.

'It's always been my goal to go out as undisputed champion. When I look at the holders of all the titles I know I can do it. They'll all fight me because I bring millions more to the table than if they fight each other.'

That passes its own sorry commentary on the heavyweight division, at a time when the biggest fights are those involving Britain's Joe Calzaghe (against Mikkel Kessler) and Ricky Hatton (versus Floyd Mayweather) at super-middleweight and light-welterweight respectively.

'Part of my mission,' says Holyfield, 'is to bring public respect back to boxing.'

Holyfield still respects Tyson. He expresses 'sadness' for the plight of his old rival and bears 'no grudge' for having chunks bitten off his ears during their infamous first fight.

The richest irony is that if they were fighting each other for the third time they would bank up to $50m each.